Frehiwot Tamru Appointed Ethiopia’s Innovation And Technology Minister

Frehiwot Tamru, who has led Ethiopia’s national telecom operator Ethio Telecom since 2018, has been appointed Minister of Innovation and Technology as the country reshuffles its cabinet for the next five-year government term.

The House of Peoples’ Representatives approved her appointment on Thursday, October 8, alongside Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s new cabinet. Frehiwot brings more than eight years of experience leading Ethio Telecom, during which the operator expanded beyond traditional telecommunications into digital financial services, e-commerce, cloud, enterprise solutions and other technology services.

Her tenure has coincided with significant growth in the operator’s customer base and digital services. In the 2025/26 financial year, Ethio Telecom reported revenue of 215.8 billion birr, a 33.2% increase from the previous year, while its customer base reached 90.1 million. Its telebirr digital financial services platform had 60.59 million customers and processed 4.19 trillion birr in transactions during the year. The operator also reported 10,613 mobile sites, 82.2% national 4G coverage and 5G services in 33 towns.

Frehiwot has also overseen Ethio Telecom’s expansion into areas that have become increasingly important to Ethiopia’s digital economy, including cloud computing, enterprise technology and digital platforms. The operator is currently implementing its three-year “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy, which includes further expansion in digital finance, cloud services, enterprise technologies and digital platforms. The company has set a target of reaching 100 million customers under the strategy.

Her move into government comes as Ethiopia continues to develop policies around digital infrastructure, innovation, technology adoption and technology-driven economic development.

Ethio Telecom has been involved in several national digital initiatives, including supporting Ethiopia’s Digital ID programme. Frehiwot has also represented the operator in engagements with international technology companies around areas including AI computing infrastructure, cloud services, enterprise digital transformation, smart industry, talent development and technology transfer.

In July, she led discussions between Ethio Telecom and Inspur Software Technology covering areas including AI infrastructure, cloud computing and technology development. Frehiwot’s appointment therefore moves her from running one of Ethiopia’s largest technology companies into a role focused on the broader policy and innovation environment. Her experience spans telecommunications infrastructure, digital financial services, enterprise technology and the development of digital platforms.

Her departure also comes as Ethio Telecom enters the second year of its Next Horizon strategy. For the 2026/27 financial year, the operator is targeting revenue of 295 billion birr as it continues to expand its digital and enterprise businesses.

As Minister of Innovation and Technology, Frehiwot will take on responsibility for a wider national agenda covering technology, innovation, digital infrastructure, research and technology-enabled economic development.